Shut Up and Suck It

[Jack]

Waking up Jack realized that the bus wasn’t moving. That must mean that they had arrived at the Roseland ballroom without any trouble. Stretching out his body, Jack was confused by the lack of noise that was coming from the bus. Tossing on some pj pants, Jack got out of the bunk area and into the small space that was considered the kitchen. Popping some bread into the toaster for a quick breakfast.

“I can see that sleeping beauty has finally woken up.” Came Rian’s voice from the couch. Jack hadn’t seen him before, lost in his own little world. “If you got up when Alex was trying to wake you then you could of went around Times Square and get real food.”

“That’s alright, I am not really in the mood to go out anyway. I think that I will just wait around here. Why didn’t you go out?” Jack asked, taking out his toast and buttering it. Pouring himself some juice to go with it, and sitting next to Rian.

“Someone had to stay here on the bus. I don’t really feel like dealing the crowds.” Rian answered looking up from his phone. “It is almost noon by the way. You should get ready so we can go to sound
check soon. Matt would have a cow if you are late.” The tv only being on for light background noise.

“Yeah yeah.” Jack said waving his hand and placing the last piece of toast in his mouth so he could walk to the bunk area to get dressed.

*buzz*

*Got hung up and won’t be there until 2 at least. :(* Jack saw the next from Vic to have his heart fall a bit. That gives them less time than both knew that they wanted. Frowning around the toast Jack sent a message back.

*Ok, just come to the bus when you arrive.*

Sound check for the ATL came and went as Jack waited for Vic to arrive. Taking up pacing a little and glancing at the clock every so often. The closer it neared to 2, the more excited that Jack got. He was just about to send Vic a message when it neared almost 15 minutes after. Only to have him burst into the bus.

“I am sorry about this! The bus driver got lost for a little and then I had to go to sound check!” Vic seemed out of breath like he had been running.

“It happens.” Jack laughed, making the mood light. The rest of the bus looked at the two boys with interest. Jack lead Vic to the back lounge so they didn’t have to be with all the others. Giving them a little bit more silence and privacy.

Sitting across from one another both had out their guitars, pens, and paper. As Vic and Jack showed each other their riffs they would write them down. Jack loved every second of it. Vic always had an amazing way of making up mind blowing riffs on the spot; he had proved that to Jack during Warped.

“That one was so good! But maybe try placing your hands here to give it this sound?” Vic requested with his tongue sticking out as he was thinking hard about what sound the guitar was going to make. Vic’s hand brushed against Jack’s as he pointed to it. Jack could feel a slight blush forming on his face.

‘What where did that come from? Vic and I have done this many times.’ Jack let his mind
wander a little bit.

“Jack?” Vic called softly. “Did you hear what I said?”

“What, yes!” Jack said playing the notes with the new finger placements. “Fuck, you’re right. Like always!” Vic gave a musical laugh. Jack couldn’t help but be entranced by the sound.

Somewhere along the lines of them working Jack and Vic started to make riffs that would be reactions to each other. Either one of them would start, with the other following the other with the response. Jack couldn’t believe how much fun that he was having. Vic had ghosted light touches, with that light blush happening on Jack’s face. He was thankfully that Vic didn’t seem to see them.

“VIC!” came a voice drifting from the front of the bus. Vic gave a grimace. It was clear to Jack that Vic didn’t want to go, and Jack didn’t want him to leave as well.

“I’m coming Tony!” Vic called back. Giving Jack a sad smile as they both got up.

“We should do this again sometime. Have a jam session. I really loved this.” Jack said with a grin.

[Vic]

“Well we took a wrong turn.” The driver said as all the band was in the front lounge. Everyone couldn’t help but give a groan. That meant that they would have less time to explore the city. Vic was really cursing on the inside. He wanted to get as much time with Jack as he could. After texting him all last night, Vic had come to the conclusion that he really seemed to have developed feelings for the tall lanky weird guitarist over the time that they had been apart.

“Vic, can I talk to you for a couple minutes? In private?” Jamie asked much to Vic’s surprise. Nodded he followed Jamie to the back lounge. The place that is the most private and quiet.

“What’s up?” Vic questioned when Jamie shut the door. Not knowing what Jamie could possibly have to talk to him about.

“What is going on between you and Jack?” Jamie asked with a very calm and firm voice. Vic’s jaw dropped. How if he didn’t know until last night, how could of Jamie figure out it so fast that he was thinking about Jack?

“Um.. nothing..” Vic started to stutter out but Jamie’s stern stare stopped him dead. “Fine, it seems
that over the time that we were apart. I developed a bit of an attraction to Jack.”

“What about Sam? Just because you are not home, need action, and see Jack doesn’t mean that you can play her and him.” Jamie said softly. Reminding Vic about the girl that was lusting after him in San Diego. Vic liked her just fine and they went on two dates but he didn’t have that attraction to her like he was with Jack. He wasn’t after Jack just because as Jamie put needed action.

“It’s not like that Jamie. Sam is really cool and all but I am not into her like I am with Jack. I actually have an attraction to Jack. I am not into Jack just because I need action as you put it.” Vic said in a stern voice. He honestly didn’t really want to talk about it but if Jamie was willing to listen to his feelings and basically coming out then so be it.

“You are serious about your feelings about Jack?” Jamie gave him that stare. The stare of are you sure you are making the right choice and I am concerned about you.

“I am dead sure. I guess now would be a good time to come out of the closet almost? I am still interested in women, but I don’t really find other guys as attractive as I do Jack.” Vic thought for a moment. Jamie just leaned back and waited for Vic to figure his thoughts out. “Well looks like I am bi. But please, don’t tell the others! I don’t think I am really ready to tell anyone else about this. Maybe if Jack accepts my feelings, but if not. No one else needs to know.” Vic started to freak out thinking about how everyone else will react.

“Don’t worry. I am not planning on telling anyone. That is all up to you. I guess I am glad you found someone after all this time. Even if it Jack Barakat.” Jamie said with a smirk. Vic couldn’t help but laugh. Jamie couldn’t be a better friend.

“Thanks Jamie. For this. It was driving me insane not being able to talk to anyone about it. I didn’t know how you guys would react. I wouldn’t want to know if anyone reacted badly.” Vic said with a sincere voice. Showing off his more unsure side. It wasn’t something that Vic showed if he could help it. Jamie placed his hand on Vic’s shoulder with a reassuring smile on his face.

“Vic, we as a band could never be stopped by something like this. We are all best friends, been through tough and good times. We all love each other, and we will love you no matter who you decide to be with. And if they even dare hurt you we will kill her or him.” Jamie said smoothing Vic’s panic.

“You’re right. Let’s get back up front before the others start to worry.” Vic said. Jamie removed his hand and nodded.

The rest of the trip to the Roseland Ballroom wasn’t that bad. Vic felt a lot better about finally being able to talk to someone about his feelings. The only thing now was going to be dropping the hints and things to Jack. Vic knew that Jack was straight, but on the other hand Vic thought that he was straight as a board. As soon as the bus stopped at 1:50 at the venue Vic went to run out to the All Time Low bus. He knew that Jack was waiting for him.

“Vic, hold up! We have to get everything all set up on stage and do the sound check.” Their tour manager said, as Vic was about to disappear down the steps. Giving a very soft sigh so no one heard it, Vic reeled back in.

Helping everything being loaded in, and finally getting his part of the sound check done. Vic just ran all the way to the All Time Low bus before anyone could say something different. Thankfully no one called him back or even questioned why he ran away. He had done things like that before.

“I am sorry about this! The bus driver got lost for a little and then I had to go to sound check!” Vic said panting a little bit.

“It happens.” Jack laughed, making the mood light Vic couldn’t help but feel the other members of the All Time Low crew watching them. Composing himself, Vic followed Jack into the back lounge. Thankful to be away from everyone else.

Taking out a guitar and the equipment needed to write down the riffs, Jack and Vic got to work. Vic listened carefully to Jack’s riffs. The same way that Jack listened to his. Vic started thinking that maybe it could be improved by Jack moving his fingers just a little way.

“That one was so good! But maybe try placing your hands here to give it this sound?” Vic said, moving his hand forward and placing Jack’s fingers where he was thinking. His tongue sticking out in thought. Jack looked down and zoned out. Vic swore that he saw a little blush starting to form on Jack’s cheeks.

“Jack?” Vic decided it would be best to say softly, he didn’t want to startle Jack out of his thoughts. “Did you hear what I said?”

“What? Yes!” Jack said. Vic saw him try to regain the focus. Playing the notes the way that Vic had suggested. “Fuck, you are right! Just like always!”

Vic could help but give a good laugh. His musical one, the one that he only has when he is honestly happy. Being so close to Jack and having a good time with him is all Vic really wanted. As much as he wanted to have Jack love him back, if that wasn’t going to be the case then he didn’t want to lose the close friendship that they had. They continued to move forward creating riffs, Vic decided that he would brush and ghost his fingers over more of Jack’s flesh. Vic now knew that his light touches where beginning to get a small blush on Jack’s face.

“VIC!” Came what Vic realized was Tony’s voice. Vic could have been happy staying with Jack much
longer but they did have a show to play and the fans are who really mean the world to Vic.

“I’m coming Tony!” Vic called back to his band mate. Getting up he gave a smile of sorry to Jack.

“We should do this again sometime. Have a jam session. I really loved this.” Jack said with a smile that warmed Vic’s heart. Vic knew that it was now or he would never pluck up the courage again.

“So, um, would you be interested with maybe before the show tomorrow going out for lunch?” Vic asked in a quiet unsure voice. His eyes looking hopefully into Jack’s.

“Yeah that sounds good to me.” Jack said with his signature smirk. A smile broke on Vic’s face before he could stop it.

Vic moved close to Jack, wrapping his arms around him, Vic gave Jack a hug. At first Jack was confused, but then wrapped his arms around Vic back. Placing his cheek against the top of Vic’s head that was placed on his chest. They stayed like that until Tony could be heard calling Vic again. Vic pulled away and walked out of the back lounge. The person that he really wanted to see was Jamie. Vic was on stage before he knew it. Talking to Jamie was going to have to wait.